SEC: Tennessee vs Kentucky 10/29/22 College Football Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Tennessee Volunteers and Kentucky Wildcats square off Saturday in week 9 SEC college football action at Neyland Stadium. The Kentucky Wildcats look to build on their 5-2 record. The Tennessee Volunteers look for an 8-0 start to remain in the playoff conversation. 

The Kentucky Wildcats have won 4 of their last 7 road games. Will Levis is completing 69.5 percent of his passes for 1,635 yards, 13 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Tayvion Robinson and Barion Brown have combined for 742 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns, while Dane Key has 20 receptions. The Kentucky Wildcats ground game is averaging 119 yards per contest, and Chris Rodriguez Jr. leads the way with 395 yards and 3 touchdowns. Defensively, Kentucky is allowing 16.4 points and 295.4 yards per game. DeAndre Square leads the Kentucky Wildcats with 52 tackles, Darrion Henry-Young has 1 sack and Keidron Smith has 1 interception.

The Tennessee Volunteers have won their last 7 home games. Hendon Hooker is completing 70.6 percent of his passes for 2,093 yards, 18 touchdowns and 1 interception. Jalin Hyatt and Bru McCoy have combined for 1,166 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns, while Ramel Keyton has 20 receptions. The Tennessee Volunteers ground game is averaging 203.2 yards per contest, and Jaylen Wright leads the way with 405 yards and 4 touchdowns. Defensively, Tennessee is allowing 23 points and 425.5 yards per game. Trevon Flowers leads the Tennessee Volunteers with 40 tackles, Byron Young has 3.5 sacks and Kamal Hadden has 2 interceptions.

The Wildcats are 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 road games and 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games overall. The Volunteers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games and 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall. The under is 7-1 in Wildcats last 8 games overall. The over is 13-3 in Volunteers last 16 games overall. The Wildcats are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 meetings in Tennessee and 3-12 ATS in their last 15 meetings.

The Tennessee Volunteers are going to be favored, especially at home, as they make a case as the best team in the country and their offense is downright scary. I get it. However, the Kentucky Wildcats are a solid club in their own right, they have their play making running back in the mix, and they’ve had an extra week to prepare for this contest. Kentucky has a top-10 scoring defense and an experienced quarterback on offense who knows how to win on the road. As good as Tennessee is, this line feels disrespectful toward a solid Kentucky side. Give me the points.